Page 23 of Sniper

Katey

My stomach grumbled for the fifth time in as many minutes and I knew I couldn’t put off my hunger for much longer, so I took a deep breath and left the room that I’d pretty much lived in since coming to the Steel Demons clubhouse. Most nights there were large aluminum trays filled with food on the tables lined along one wall. It was amazing really, how much the women—old ladies and club girls alike—came together to make sure everyone was fed each day.

It was nothing like the atmosphere at Ethan’s former MC. At his club, the club girls were treated as whores, convenient holes when one of the members needed to satisfy their hunger. It didn’t matter what those women wanted or hoped for, all that mattered was that they were always ready and always willing. And the old ladies were just wives and girlfriends, they added nothing to the MC because they weren’t allowed to. It wasn’t a club or a family, it was a gang.

Even I could admit the stark difference between the two clubs as I scanned the tables to see what was on tonight’s menu. I added two pieces of chicken and a few scoops of roasted potatoes to my plate and then turned, searching for a table small enough for me. Only me.

“Katey.”

The masculine voice didn’t belong to Sniper and when I looked up, I found Falcon looking better than the last timeI’d seen him. His blond hair hung freely around his shoulders, his golden eyes sparked full of life and amusement. I made my way to the round table with three vacant chairs and sat down. “Falcon. How are you feeling?”

He sighed. “Much better, thanks to you.”

I offered a small smile in return, still uncomfortable when people compliment me. “I just did my job. No thanks necessary.”

“See that’s where you’re wrong. You saved my fuckin’ life Katey and I am so appreciative of that. If you hadn’t been here, I would have bled the fuck out, so thank you.”

“You’d already stopped bleeding by the time I opened you up. I don’t want or need your gratitude, Falcon.” I winced at how cold that sounded. “What I mean is, I should thank you, but that would make me sound like a bigger asshole than even I am.” I searched for the words to say what I wanted to convey without sounding like a cold-hearted bitch.

“You’re going through a lot right now,” he said, his voice full of understanding.

“Helping you that night, having my hands inside your body was the most normal I’ve felt since I escaped from Ethan.” It still sounded cold and lifeless, and worse it made me sound vulnerable.

“You’ll get back to it soon.” His voice was filled with quiet confidence and I really wanted to believe it.

“Thanks for saying that, but I’m not so sure.”

“I am,” he assured me with a gentle smile. Falcon opened his hand to reveal a faded patch with his name on it. “I want you to have this. You don’t have to wear it or carry it with you but Ijust, fuck, I don’t know Katey, I need you to have this as a token of good luck and appreciation.”

I rubbed my thumb over the faded word, back and forth in a soothing gesture. “I’m not sure I deserve this. Are you sure you don’t want to hang on to it?”

“I’m sure. This means you’re one of us now. No matter how bitchy or grumpy you are, nothing will change that. Thank you.”

Tears stung the backs of my eyes at his generous gesture and kind words. I refused to let myself break down, so I asked. “What happened to this patch?”

He laughed. “It was on my old vest and that got pretty fucked during a fight at a biker rally in the desert.”

“I guess it is pretty lucky,” I conceded with a laugh. “You lead an interesting life, Falcon.”

“Never a dull moment,” he agreed with a harsh laugh. “At least until you get shot and then you’re benched and put on babysitting duty.” He motioned to all the women and kids sitting around. “It’s what family does though.”

A family. I’d scoffed anytime someone made that claim because it just didn’t ring true, but I could admit that although this was a nontraditional family, they were indeed a family. They cared for one another the same way Cal and I did. I stared at the patch, feeling grateful and oddly emotional. It had been so long since I felt as if I belonged anywhere other than the ER. Cal and I loved each other, but we hadn’t been in the same state since he joined the military. My stay here was temporary, but I could let myself enjoy belonging for a little while.

Couldn’t I?

“Thank you, Falcon. I appreciate this.”

His smile was still gentle, but his eyes sparkled with mischief when he looked over my shoulder. I knew without turning around that it was Sniper. The air shifted slightly the way it always did when he was near. I told myself it was because he annoyed me on a cellular level, but I knew that wasn’t it.

Falcon stood without wincing and grinned again. “Go easy on him, Katey. He’s a grumpy fucker but he’s loyal as fuck and he’s a man of his word. You’re safe with him, that’s a fact.”

I nodded and when he walked off, I gave my full attention to the now lukewarm food on my plate, determined not to cry. I shouldn’t be this emotional over a worn piece of cloth but even I knew that wasn’t the cause. Gentle human kindness wasn’t something I was used to anymore and Falcon’s simple act had broken a big piece of the resolve that had been keeping me upright the past year.

When my vision blurred due to the unshed tears I stood, tossed the remaining food in the garbage, and rushed back to my room.

My prison.

My sanctuary.

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